Ride like the Sun: Electrobike - Solar Electric Bicycle

lol, for $7500 US, you could get 3 xm2000 street legal mopeds capable of 35mph(62kmh) or 3 of any other similar moped. And these come with a 30 mile range. how on earth does this thing cost so much? you can do a electric assist refit on any bike for under 1000, 2000 if u want lithiums and more range than u could possibly ever use

For that kind of coin, I can get a quiver of three to eight bicycles for every kind of riding I could ever want! This thing does 32km/h, whoopee! I can do that on my $1200 steel road bike, with my rather moderate fitness. I am sure the carbon load of production for my ride is better, not to mention not having the pollutants most batteries do. And my bike does not have only 400 charges: just feed me. My commute also serves as my gym.

Bicycles are the past, and the future.

What'e even funnier is the PV cell add-on for a mere $1800. I'll bet that extends the range by a few feet (in the mojave desert on Jue 21)!

How will this bike affect the planning industry, i.e. the width of bike lanes due to faster bikes? What about Amsterdam's bicycle culture- any trickle-down effects? Could this be the nail in the coffin for the Segway? What ever happened to mopeds?! :)

Cheers,

Greg S.
www.grandtradition.net

And even better, that "panel" is actually only functioning at 50% when deployed in that fashion. Since its an arch, only one leg of the arch can face the sun at one time. How utterly ridiculous.

But panel nonsense aside, I like the bike. Of course way overpriced, but most limited run, hand made frames/bikes cost between $5G and $10G. Especially high end downhill rigs and road bikes.

I would only be impressed if it had the same tech specs and cost $750 ... it could even be slightly less styled. Then, it may have a chance at being something more than a piece of sculpture.

Wow, it's dripping problems. Laying the PV on the ground would be much better than the position pictured where no more than a 1/3 would be in direct sun at any time. For the sake of design the step over height is extremely high and dangerous if a quick dismount is needed. Finally, as others have noted 20mph is not fast for a bicycle; if I'm pushing I can stay above that around my city streets. Technically I doubt these motorized vehicles could go in bike lanes. Despite many postings in the "next bike" vein, I only see one improvement to the 100+ year old bicycle design most people ride today, and that is the aerodynamic improvements mainly found in recumbents. But even though they are faster and require less energy to pedal, most people (myself included) don't ride them.

There is a place for 'bents, but not for this... thing!

A recumbent is more aerodynamic, easier on injured/old backs and touches. It may be easier to pedal on a tour. But there are a host of reasons why it will always be niche: they don't accelerate like a standard bike when you get out of the saddle; they are not as agile, they aren't easily hoisted up stairs, into elevators or onto vehicles; their limited production makes them much more expensive; and you can't draft for #$%*. Oh yeah, they look almost as stupid as this... thing!

The steel-framed road bike is perhaps the oldest up-to-date technology we have.

Wow, not surprised about the price complaints but that aside I think this e-b deserves attention and I think it's cool looking, esp. with the bags.

Broaden your horizons folks, the market for such bikes is in my neck of the woods where most people use 2 wheel transport and pedaling is a problem for many - heat & pavement issue!

Recumbents have one more FATAL flaw, their visibility to drivers, or lack thereof. Even with a flag. I have spoken with many drivers who, on rural roads, come around bends and never see the things until after they pass in the rear-view. SUV's and trucks basically can't see them at all unless its a long straightaway and they are in the distance.

Shame, as I love actually riding them, especially some of the trikes that lean into corners.

You can find this bike's manufacturer website, and most other EV bikes, and also cool velomobile manufacturer websites on EVtransPortal.com's portal, just look for the "Manufacturers/Distributors of Electric Bikes, Scooters, and Motorcycles" category of links. The Brammo Enertia is a very cool electric motorcycle.

Even just as a bike it looks wrong. The head angle is very relaxed and all the weight is over the back wheel. It'll steer like a barge.

For the price, the components aren't very expensive either. $50 brakes?

Sorry to be rude, but the bloggers obviously have no sense of art. This is more than a bike. This is more than a commuter. This is persoal, stylized transportation - the hurdle green vehicles have been failing to clear. The fact that this ride has a low impact on resources is a passion of the builder, not a marketing ploy.

I find it amazing that treehuggers continually groan about price when cheap goods are fueling rampat disposable consumerism. If you want cheap, Mal-Mart is out there. You can get a new bike for less than $100.

Here is my favorite example: "I'll go solar when it's cheaper."

My pedal bikes cruises at 20 mph also, but if you exceed that speed on public roads, you are breaking the law, electric or pedal, unless you register as a moped or better, requiring lights, turn signals, DOT helmets, and so on. So this BICYCLE has a speed limiter. You can turn it off if you want to be another asshole on the road.

The solar panel thingy? No comment.

Bike as Art. Pure and simple. It is nice to use the frame for more than holding it all together. Yes, better geometry can be used for the road but hey, it's cool looking. Maybe it is comfy too?

I like how when the solar panel is mounted, the driver can't see straight ahead, and only a small part of the panel can face the sun at a time.
Another great triumph of form over function.

Let's try something new... think of the people who might need assisted transport, and a bike fits their needs. Form many, it's more like mobility, that as a real famous Texan who wears a lot of yellow once said, "it's not about the bike".

I think homogenous bikes are ugly. Same.....old....thing....blah...blah...blah

A applaud this designer who's made a workable piece of art that is a great mix of fashion and function; notice which work came first.

Great work, but maybe leave the sun bonnet at home.